Combination fastener and connecter



Dec. 11, 1934. w. R. LARTER COMBINATION FASTENER AND CONNECTER Filed Aug. 19, 1933 I Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION FASTENER ANDOONNECTER Warren R. Larter, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Larter'& Sons, Newark, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 19, 1933, Serial No. 685,890 '8 Claims. (01. 40-10) 5 for separably connecting together two elements such as the ends of a chain to make a key-holder, or to be attachably connected to other objects and having self-contained means for making the connection, for example, a pendant to be connected to a necklace, or as a tag to be attached to a chain or ring. One specific embodiment of my invention contemplates a novel and improved keyholder of the type including a chain or the like for holding a plurality of keys, and means for segregating and holding one particular key separate from the other keys so that said particular key can be easily and quickly reached for use. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the general character described including a combination of a separable connecter element, such a sectional ring, and a fastener for releasably locking said connecter in connected relation to an object or to objects to be connected, and which shall comprise two sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends, each section including a part of the connecter element at one end and a part of the fastener at the other .end, whereby the connecter element and fastener element can be simultaneously operated into locking and releasing positions by-pivotal movement of the sections.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein the fastener ends of said sections shall be also adapted to serve as a connecter for the ends of a chain or the like, whereby a plurality of keys can be held on such a. chain and a particular key can be held in the first-mentioned connecter element in segregated relation to the other keys.

Other objects are to provide a device of the character described wherein one pair of complemental ends of said sections shall serve as a casing or receptacle, for example, to receive an-index or directory card for the keys which may be numbered or otherwise identified, or to receive an I automobile license or an identification card for the owner; to provide a combination fastener and connecter which shall be simple and inexpensive, and durable in construction, and attractive in appearance, and convenient and simple in use and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a combination fastener and connecter embodying my invention.

showing it applied to akey-holder.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the" device.

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof with portions of the chain broken away.

Figure '4 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1. I

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device with the chain removed and the two sections in separated relation. 1

K Figure 6 is a horizontal, sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional View on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similarview on the line 88 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention with portions broken away.

Figure 10 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the device shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a plan view of another form of the invention. 1

Figure 12 is a vertical, sectional View on the line l212 of Figure 11. V

Figure 13 is a plan view of the combination fastener and connecterembodied in a necklace pendant, and a Figure 14 is a plan view of the invention embodied in a tag.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, the combination fastener and connecter comprises two sections generally designated as 1 and -2 which are pivotally or hingedly connected together intermediate their ends as indicated at 3. One end of each section has'a part 4 of a connecter element which is complemental to and cooperates with the corresponding part of theother section. In the present instance, these parts 4 consist of semi-circular segments of a ring the segments being connectedvat one end to the respective sections l and 2 and having a halvedtogether joint 5 at their other ends. Each end of each section opposite the corresponding connecter part 4 comprisesfa part of a fastener to cooperate with the corresponding part of the other section. As shown, one fastener part has a pair of beveled lugs 6 which cooperate with undercut recesses '1 in the flange 8 of the other section, so that as the sections-are pivotally swung toward each other, the flange 8 will spring over the lugs 6 and interlock therewith to hold the sections against pivotal movement. 1

The fastener parts may be of any suitable shape, but as shown, simulate the contour of a scalloped shell, and the parts have respective cavities 9 and 10 on their adjacent sides which (:0- operate, when the fastener parts are connected together, to form a receptacle or container as clearly shown in Figure 4. For releasing or unfastening the fastener parts, preferably the parts have projecting ears 11 providing a V-shaped groove between them to receive the thumb nail or a suitable edged instrument for prying the sections apart.

The ends of the sections 1 and 2, constituting the fastener parts, may also serve for connecting together the ends of a chain or similar flexible member 12, and as shown, one section has hooks 13 inturned from the edge thereof over which the end links 14 of the chain 12 may be connected, and said section is also formed with notches 15 at opposite sides of the hooks 13 to receive the links 14. The other section is adapted to overlie the links connected to the hooks 13 when the fastener parts are connected together so as to hold the links against displacement from the hooks, and if desired, the second-mentioned section may have notches 16 opposite the notches 15 to provide a clearance for the links 14. The openings between the sections formed by the notches 15 and 16 are preferably smaller than the width of the links of the chain, so that the link next to that connected to the hook 13 cannot be pushed inwardly in such a manner as to disengage the link from the hook.

With this construction it will be observed that when the two sections 1 and 2 are pivotally swung apart or separated as shown in Figure 5, the connecter parts 4 are separated so that they may be threaded through a ring or the like, or have threaded thereon any article having an aperture to receive the parts, and the container formed by the other ends of the sections is open to receive any article which it may be desired to place in the container. When the sections are swung together, as shown in Figure 4, the fastener elemerits 6 and 7 are snapped together so as to hold the sections against pivotal movement, and at the same time, the connecter parts t are brought into contact to complete the ring, While the container formed by the sections is closed.

If desired, the chain 12 may serve to hold a plurality of keys A, while the connecter ring may be utilized for holding a particular key 13 in segregated relation to the keys A, so that said key B can be easily and quickly reached. a

A modification of the invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10, where the ends of the sections opposite the connecter parts 4 are in the form of telescoping, box-like sections 1'7 and 18 which may receive between them a card 19 or the like, bearing suitable data. For example, when the sections 17 and 18 are used as connecters for a key-holding chain 20, each key may have an identifying character 21, and the card 19 may have inscriptions 22 to serve as an index for identifying the respective keys. The connecter element may be utilized as a ring for hanging the device in a convenient place. The hooks 23, corresponding to the hooks 13, may, in addition to receiving the end links of the chain 20, also serve as clips beneath which the edge of the card 19 may be inserted, as shown in Figure 10, for holding the card in the section 18. The structure and operation of this form of device is other wise in general the same as that of the device shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figures 11 and 12, where the ends of the sections opposite the connecter element comprise complemental, semi-cylindrical container sections 24 and 25 to receive an article which it may be desired to carry in the device, for example, an automobile license 26, which may be spirally rolled and encased between the sections 24 and 25. This form of the invention is especially suitable for automobile owners, since the chain 27 may be utilized for carrying keys, and the connecter element 28 may be used for segregating and holding a particular key, and the automobile license may be conveniently and safely carried with the keys, whereby the possibility of forgetting the license may be avoided.

In Figure 13, the invention is shown embodied in a pendant for a necklace or the like. Here the ends of the sections 29 opposite the connecter element 30 are shaped and ornamented to serve 1 as a pendant, while the connecter element 30 may serve for connecting the pendant to the ends of a necklace 31 or the like. The sections also have fastener elements identical with the lug and recess 6 and '7 respectively for releasably locking the parts of the connecter element together on the ends of thenecklace.

A similar embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 14, where the ends 33 of the sections opposite the connecter element 32 are shaped to serve as a tag to receive suitable inscriptions 34. The connecter element 31 will serve for connecting the tag to another article or object, for example, the ring on a dog collar,

and the sections also have fastener elements like the elements 6 and '7 for locking the parts of the connecter element together.

While I have shown and described the invention as embodied in several different forms of structure, it should beunderstood that thisis primarily for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, and that many modifications and changes may be made in the detail of the structure, Without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

many different purposes and constitutes a simple, inexpensive and durable combination fastener and connecter. Therefore, I do not desire to be limited in the use of the invention, except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends for relative movement into and from parallel planes, and each comprising a connecter part on one side of said pivot and a receptacle forming part on the other side of the pivot to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section when the sections are in parallel planes.

2. In a device of the character described,- a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends for relative movement into and from parallel planes, and each comprising a connecter part on one side of said pivot, and a receptacle forming part on the other side of the pivot to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section when the sections are in parallel planes, said sections having cooperating fastener parts to hold the same in parallel planes. V

3. In a device of the character" described, a

As shown, the invention is susceptible of use for pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends for relative movement into and from parallel planes, and each comprising a connecter part on one side of said pivot, and a receptacle forming part on the other side of the pivot to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section when said sections are in parallel planes, a chain having its ends removably secured in one receptacle forming part for anchoring said ends against removal when the sections are in parallel planes.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends, and each having a connecter part at one end and a fastener part at the other end to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section, said fastener parts cooperating to releasably hold the sections against pivotal movement, the secondmentioned ends of said sections having cooperating connector means to receive and hold the ends of a chain between them, and with the addition of a chain having its ends connected to said cooperating means.

5. A device of the character described comprising a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends, and each having a connecter part at one end and a fastener part at the other end to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section, said fastener parts cooperating to releasably hold said sections against pivotal movement, the secondmentioned ends of said sections having two complemental pairs of notches to form openings to receive the links at the ends of a chain, and with the addition of a hook adjacent each notch of one section to be connected to one of said links.

6. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends, and each having a connecter part at one end and a fastener part at the other end to separably cooperate with corresponding parts of the other section, said fastener parts cooperating to releasably hold said sections against pivotal movement, the secondmentioned end of one of said sections having a pair of hooks to receive the links at the end of a chain, and the corresponding end of the other section overlying such links to hold them against displacement from said hooks.

'7. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of complemental sections pivotally connected intermediate their ends, and each having a connector part at one end and a fastener part at the other end to separably cooperate with the corresponding parts of the other section, said fastener parts cooperating to releasably hold said sections against pivotal movement, the second-mentioned ends of said sections being shaped to form a receptacle between them and having cooperating connecter means for holding the ends of a chain between them to receive and hold a plurality of keys having identification characters thereon, and with the addition of a chain connected to said connecter means, and a card within said receptacle having an index of said identification characters.

8. A device of the character described comprising a pair of pivotally connected sections one of which has hooks to receive the end links of a chain, a chain connected to said hooks, the other section overlying said hooks and linkis when said sections are swung together to hold the links against disengagement from said hooks, and cooperating fastener elements on said sections for holding the sections together.

WARREN R. LARTER. 

